The next day after meeting Lyra, I pull Zix'ilit aside. Something about her sudden appearance and his eagerness to fill out the team feels suspicious.

  "Let's talk," I tell him, leading him to a quiet corner away from the others. "You've been in a real hurry to fill the team. Why the rush?"

  Zix'ilit's frill flutters with nervous colors, bouncing slightly on his spring-loaded feet. "Just want Team Exodus at optimal configuration! Four-member structure maximizes tactical options! More victories mean more recognition for my sponsorship!"

  I cross my arms, not buying it. "Really? To the point that you’re even willing to fill your team with a player? Someone who’s still a sponsor and can make contracts with assets? Aren’t you afraid she’ll offer better contract terms and steal us from you?"

  His bouncing intensifies, colors shifting rapidly across his frill. "Lyra is trustworthy! Just excited about team progress! Crown component acquisition ahead of schedule! A-rank recognition established!"

  "Zix," I say firmly, "we had a deal. Complete honesty, remember? Whatever you're hiding, I need to know now."

  He stops bouncing, his frill drooping slightly as the colors fade to subdued blues. For a moment, he looks genuinely conflicted.

  "Family situation," he finally admits, voice quieter than I've ever heard it. "Complicated inheritance issue."

  "What kind of family situation?"

  Zix'ilit sinks a little lower, his usual exuberance completely gone. "My great-great-grandfather... he's dying."

  This wasn't what I expected. "I'm sorry to hear that."

  "Last of the original generation," Zix'ilit continues, his translator struggling to convey the emotional undertones in his voice. "The one who earned our family's freedom, who made us sponsors instead of assets."

  I lean against the wall, letting him continue.

  "He was S-ranked, you know. One of the few to complete all ten victories and earn their freedom." Zix'ilit's frill briefly flashes with pride before returning to somber blues. "His legacy... it's substantial. Resources, enhancement technologies, combat techniques."

  "And let me guess," I say, putting it together. "There's disagreement as to who inherits."

  "A competition," he confirms. "Grandfather demanded it. Six arena cycles from now, all descendants must present their sponsored teams for combat evaluation."

  Now things are starting to make sense. "So that’s why you need a four-person team."

  "Four-member team mandatory to qualify for inheritance battle," he nods, bouncing slightly with renewed energy. "But not just any team, a strong one. My cousins have established sponsorships, experienced assets, many cycles of resource accumulation."

  "And you're the underdog," I observe.

  His frill ripples with what might be embarrassment. "Youngest sponsor in family lineage. Limited resource access. No previous successful assets." He looks up at me with those large, expressive eyes. "Until Team Exodus."

  I consider this new information. "So building us up isn't just about climbing the ranks or earning prestige. It's about winning your family competition."

  "Yes," he admits. "But goals align perfectly! Your freedom requires same work as competition preparation! Win-win cooperation framework!"

  "Why didn't you just tell me this from the beginning?"

  Zix'ilit's bouncing becomes agitated. "Feared rejection! Thought you might see personal motivation as exploitation! Wanted to prove sponsorship value first!"

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Is that the only reason?” I press, feeling like there’s more he’s not telling me.

  "Family will also send their teams after you once you appear to be a threat," Zix'ilit admits, his frill drooping slightly.

  “Isn’t this something you should warn us about earlier?” I ask, feeling annoyed at being kept in the dark about this.

  "Team Exodus not real threat right now!" Zix'ilit argues back, bouncing slightly with renewed energy, his frill pulsing with defensive oranges. "Other teams will not target you until you reach A+ rank!"

  Well, I guess me being too weak for them to want to hunt me down is a good thing.

  Despite my irritation at being kept in the dark, I can understand his reasoning. If he told me this from the beginning, then I might not have taken his offer. But that would have meant not having access to the Labyrinth, to the resources we desperately needed. And despite keeping us in the dark about this, he has been genuinely supportive of our goals.

  "What exactly does this competition involve?" I ask.

  His frill brightens with cautious hope. "Not sure yet! Grandfather will announce on day of competition!"

  Great, we don’t even know what we’re even competing in yet. "And the level of competition?"

  "Significant," he admits, bouncing nervously again. "My cousin Vrax... rumors suggest he's recruited an S-minus ranked asset to represent his sponsorship."

  I whistle softly. "S-minus rank? That's well beyond where I am now."

  "But not beyond your potential trajectory!" Zix'ilit insists, his frill expanding with renewed enthusiasm. "Your advancement metrics are unprecedented! Six arena cycles provides sufficient development timeline!"

  I pace the room, thinking it through. "Let's say we help you win this competition. What's in it for Team Exodus?"

  "Resource sharing!" he promises immediately. "Grandfather's legacy includes enhancement technologies from restricted development archives! Permanent rank advancement opportunities! Get stronger! Reach freedom faster!"

  "You're talking about splitting the inheritance," I clarify.

  "Yes! Fair sharing based on contribution! Team Exodus would receive significant part: technologies, enhancement resources, everything needed to get stronger!"

  I consider the offer. We're already committed to helping Zix'ilit as our sponsor, and our goals do align. Reaching S-rank would put us well on our way to achieving the ten consecutive victories needed for freedom. And having access to rare enhancement technologies would certainly accelerate our progress.

  "Alright," I decide. "We'll help you win your family tournament. But from now on, complete transparency. No more secrets."

  Zix'ilit bounces with unbridled joy, his frill exploding into vibrant yellows and oranges. "Agree! Complete information sharing from now on! Team Exodus and Zix'ilit, best partnership configuration!"

  "So Lyra wasn't just a random addition," I guess. "You specifically sought out someone with her abilities."

  "We needed her!" he confirms. "The tournament needs a balanced team! Someone who can take hits and heal is super important for keeping everyone alive! I searched everywhere to find the perfect person!"

  At least now his eagerness makes sense. Six arena cycles isn't a long time to build a team capable of competing against S-ranked assets, especially starting from where Zix'ilit began, a new sponsor with limited resources and recognition.

  "How many competitors will there be in this tournament?" I ask.

  "Seventeen cousins can enter," he replies. "But not all of them will make it in. Your team has to be good enough just to qualify."

  "And what rank do I need to reach to be competitive?"

  His bouncing slows slightly, frill shifting to more serious colors. "Best case? You'd be S-rank by tournament time. But at minimum, you need to hit S-minus to even have a chance!"

  I nod, processing this. "So I need to advance from A-minus to S-minus in six arena cycles. And that's just to have a fighting chance."

  "It's super fast, I know!" he agrees. "But you're already learning way quicker than normal! And that Crown we're building will give you a huge power boost!"

  It's an ambitious timeline, but not impossible. With the resources we're gaining access to and the team we're building, reaching S-minus rank within six cycles is within the realm of possibility.

  "Does the rest of the team need to know about this?" I ask.

  "Probably better if everyone knows," Zix'ilit suggests. "Teams work better when they all understand what they're fighting for!"

  "I'll tell them," I agree. "But I want you there too, to answer any questions."

  As we return to the others, I find myself reevaluating our partnership with Zix'ilit. What I had taken for simple enthusiasm was actually something more complicated, desperation mixed with ambition, a sponsor trying to prove himself to his family while carrying on his great-great-grandfather's legacy.

  Six arena cycles to reach S-rank and compete against the best assets his cousins can field. It's a daunting challenge, but also an opportunity. If we succeed, we'll gain access to resources that could greatly speed up our path to freedom.

  It’ll be challenging, but the rewards make it more than worth it.